Ivanovic beats Halep but Williams goes through

Anaivanovic

Both players had comfortably beaten Eugenie Bouchard in Singapore, but Ivanovic previously lost 6-4 6-4 to Williams, while Halep crushed the American 6-0 6-2.

Those results left the Serbian needing a straight sets victory to progress from the Red Group and send world No 1 Williams crashing out.

Having qualified for this tournament for the first time in six years thanks to wins in Auckland, Monterrey, Birmingham and Tokyo, the 26-year-old was determined to give it a go - but came up agonisingly short.

Salep's serve had been rock-solid before this match and she looked in total control when leading the first set 4-1 and 5-2.

However, Ivanovic refused to lie down and there was plenty of fist-pumping and foot-stamping from the Serb as she fought back to edge ahead 6-5.

Salep regained her composure to force a tiebreak, but Ivanovic looked the hungrier player as she saved a set-point at 5-6 before prevailing 9-7.

The question now was whether Ivanovic could keep her emotions in check - and if Salep had the resolve to rally after already clinching top spot in the group by winning six games.

In the second set, it was Ivanovic's erratic serving which proved decisive as Salep found some rhythm and upped the tempo to dash her opponent's hopes of making the semi-finals.

Ivanovic was understandably left deflated but earned plenty of plaudits for saving three break points in the third game of the deciding set.

In fact, despite giving off the body language of a beaten foe, Ivanovic had enough left in the tank to forge ahead 5-3 with a late break and close out the win - albeit to no avail.

Halep will take on Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals, with Williams meeting Caroline Wozniacki.

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